Combined catamenial appliance and garment



Get. 28, 1952 E. c. BROWN K 2,615,449

COMBINED CATAMENIAL APPLIANCE AND GARMENT Filed Aug. 2, 1951 PatentedOct. 28, 1952 CGBIBINED CATAMENIAL APPLIANCE AND` GARMENT Ethel C.Brown, Mission, Kans.

Application August 2, 1951, Serial No. 239,974

(Cl. 12S- 289) 4 Claims. 1 This invention relates to wearing apparel andhas to do more particularly with an improved undergarment that isadaptable for use as a catamenial appliance, the primary object being toprovide simplied structure including a pocketed portion for receiving asanitary pad'or other absorptive. y

It is the most important object of the present invention to provide acatamenial appliance and garment that includes a rather narrow, elastic,continuous body encircling band, together with a substantiallysemi-circular panel joined at the ends thereof to the band atdiametrically opposed points on the latter, the panel having a stripthereonformed and mounted to present a padreceiving pocket.

Another object of this invention is to provid a garment as above setforth wherein the aforesaid strip is'longitudinally slotted to exposethe pad held thereby, the strip having a width substantially the same asthe width of the panel upon which the same is mounted.

Other objects include the way in which the strip is secured to the panelat the bight of the latter solely at the periphery of the strip; the

'way in which elastic means, secured to the strip only, adjacent theslot thereof, surrounds the latter and aids in holding the pad in place;and many more minor objects including simplied construction, all ofwhich will be made clear orl become apparentvas the followingspecification progresses, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combined catamenial appliance andgarment made pursuant to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, cross-sectional View taken on line II-II of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line III--III of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse, cross-sectional View taken on line II--II ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line III- III of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse, cross-sectional view taken on line '1V- IV ofFig. 3 still further enlarged.

As above indicated, one of the most important features of the presentinvention is to provide a garment that is provided with means adaptingthe same to support a sanitary pad, which means does not adverselyaffect the device for use as a garment from the standpoint of discomfortor unsightly appearance of outer garments.

As will hereinafter appear, the entire appliance is extremely simple andtherefore, easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the appliance comprisesessentially but three component parts, namely, a continuous band I0, asubstantially semi-circular, one-piece, seamless panell I2, and anelongated strip I4. The relatively narrow, lightweight band I0 isadapted to encircle the body ofthe wearer and is therefore, preferablymade from elastic material. The panel I2 is also preferably flexible andmay be made from any suitable fabric, the ends of the strap I2 beingpermanently secured to the band l0 at diametrically opposed points onthe latter.

As is clearly shown by the drawing, the panel I2 is appreciably widerthan the band I0 but is restricted at the bight thereof to substantiallythe width of a sanitary pad I6 to be usedwith the garment, presenting arelatively narrow, elongated strap I1. Panel I2 constitutes preferably,a sheet of material of single thickness, formed to present a pair ofsubstantially triangular-shaped end portions I8 having their basessecured to band I0 and their apexes merging into strap I1.

The elongated strip I4 has substantially the same width as the width ofthe strap I1 andvis.

secured to the latter on the normally uppermost face thereof solely bymeans of a continuous line of stitching 20 at the outermost periphery ofthe strip I4. Strip I4 is likewise preferably formed from a suitablefabric and in order to assure that the same maintains the shapeillustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, strip I4 should be cut onthe bias.

An elongated, longitudinally extending slot 22 is formed in the strip I4to expose the pad I6 when the latter is placed in the pocket that ispresented by the strip I4 and the underlying strap I1, the outermostlimits of such pocket being dened by the line of stitching 2D. Strip I4It can well be appreciated that when the device is used as a catamenialappliance, little discomfort to the wearer is presented and the pad I6is properly held in the necessary position to receive menstrualdischarge, band I and strap I2 cooperating in holding pad I6 againstdisplacement while permitting freedom of movement on the part of thewearer. Furthermore, the elastic thread 24 will readily permit removalof pads I6 and replacement thereof and the entire garment may be easilyand quickly laundered.

Additionally, it can now well be appreciated that the device isadaptable for use as a garment without the presence of pad I6 sincethere are provided no uncomfortable parts such as metallike fastenersand the like as is common in ,appliances of this character.

Forming of the garment from but three primary parts, i. e. band I0,panel I2 and. strip I4 is of extreme importance to comfort, lightness ofweight, ease and inexpensiveness of .manufacture and utility, both as agarment and as a catamenial appliance. The single strap I'l with thesmall strip I4 thereon offers no discomfort Whatsoever to the wearerwhen worn as a garment and a minimum of bulkiness when pad I6 is used.

The form of panel I2, so far as end portions I8 is concerned, is alsoimportant. They serve to hold strap I`I in place Within the crotch; aidin holding pad I S against displacement, present a protection to thewearer by virture of their bodycovering functions; add to comfort bylying atly against the body; eliminate unsightly bulkiness thatWouldotherwise show through outer garments; and present a covering,permitting the use of light-weight wearing apparel thereover.

While precise details of construction as above set ofrth may be varied,it is manifest that such changes as fairly come within the spirit of theinvention as defined by the scope of the appended claims, arecontemplated hereby.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A combined catainenial appliance and garment comprising a continuous,body-encircling, elastic band; a substantially semi-circular, ilexiblepanel depending from the band and having the ends thereof joined to theband at diametrically opposed points thereon; and an elongated,longitudinally-slotted, flexible strip on the uppermost face of thepanel at the bight of thelatter and secured to the panel solely at theperiphery of the strip to present apad-receiving pocket between thepanel and the strip, the widths of the strip and of the panel beingsubstantially the same at the strip.

2. A combined catamenial appliance and garment comprising a continuous,body-encircling, elastic band; a substantially semi-circular, ilexiblepanel depending from the band and having the ends thereof joined to theband at diametrically opposed points thereon; an elongated,longitudinally-slotted, flexible strip `-on the uppermost face of thepanel at the bight of the latter and secured to the panel solely at theperiphery of the strip to present a pad-receiving pocket between thepanel and the strip, the widths of the strip and of the panel beingsubstantially the same at the strip; and continuous, elastic meanssecured to the strip adjacent the slot thereof and in surroundingrelationship thereto.

3. A combined catamenial appliance and garment comprising a continuous,body-encircling, elastic band; a substantially semi-circular, vilexiblepanel depending from the band and having the ends thereof joined to theband at diametrically opposed points thereon; and an elongated,longitudinally-slotted fabric strip on the uppermost face of the panelat the bight of the latter and secured to the panel solely at theperiphery of the strip to present a pad-receiving pocket between thepanel and the strip, the widths of the strip and of the panel beingsubstantially the same, said strip being cut on the bias.

4. A combined catamenial appliance and garment comprising a continuous,body-encircling, elastic band; a substantially semi-circular, flexiblepanel depending from the band and having the ends thereof joined to theband at diametrically opposed points thereon; and an elongated,longitudinally-slotted, iiexible strip on the uppermost face of thepanel at the bight of the latter and secured to the panel solely at theperiphery of the strip to present a pad-receiving pocket between thepanel and the strip, the widths of the strip and of the panel beingsubstantially the same at the strip, said panel including a pair ofsubstantially triangular-shaped portions at the ends thereof` and arelatively narrow, elongated strap joining the portions at the apexesthereof, the bases of the portions being' secured to the band, the strapforming the said bight of the panel.

ETHED'C. BROWN.

No references cited.

